With high blood pressure affecting one in three Americans, Ohio-based Dr. Naveed Fazlani has a few tips for the large number of baby boomers who are now beginning to suffer from this health issue. High blood pressure happens when stress on a person’s arteries affects the body’s ability to carry blood throughout the body, explains Dr. Naveed Fazlani. Causes, according to Dr. Fazlani, can range from stress to diet to genetics.

One of the first steps that Dr. Naveed Fazlani recommends is weight loss. Not only will this help lower blood pressure, he says, but it can improve a patient’s overall health. Dr. Naveed Fazlani also recommends patients lower salt intake and try to find ways to be more active. If lifestyle changes can’t bring improvements, medication may be necessary. Beta blockers and ACE inhibitors are common treatments for high blood pressure. However, since there are side effects to these medications, Dr. Naveed Fazlani cautions patients to work with their physicians before beginning treatment.